Ahh..Italian music. That didnt teach me any Italian..but, it reminded me of something.

When I was a kid, I was raised in a city that bordered the bronx. Every last week of June, our church would hold their St. Anthony feast. On the saturday of that feast weekend, they would have what we called, their st anthony parade where they would take the statue around the many italian neighborhoods (which was probably most of them). The parade consisted of the saint..a smaller saint..kids in white, a band..and old people in black, in the back. Of course, it was for people to pin money on the saint. From when I was 7 until 17 I marched every year from 9am to 9pm..first in my white communion dress, then in a white skirt and blouse. As a teen, we were given beer trays filled with rose petals and st anthony pins, and we collected coins that people wanted to donate, and we would give them a pin. We had certain stops, where we ate..in the yards of certain people who provided sandwiches, italian cookies and soda.

Anyway..this band used to play the old italian folk music. I am gonna say..mostly napolitano.

Those songs always remained in my mind..but, who even knew the names of them.

Haha and for those of you living in Italy..I want to show you what you would see if you came to an italian/american wedding. This one happens to be an irish italian wedding...but, it is exactly what is seen at every wedding I have ever been to in my life. If nobody dances to anything..you can assure yourself the dancefloor will look like this..as soon as the music starts. I laughed so hard when I found this..because it doesnt matter whose wedding it is..it all looks the same.

Carole..you post this stuff in italian, and while I can only get the gist of it..I love hearing it.

I think, for most 1st or second generation italians in this country, our parents neglected to teach us the language. I am betting this was so they could talk freely in front of us and we wouldnt understand.

Growing up, my city had a huge italian population. You were either italian..or wanted to be. Almost every friend I had was italian and every one of us had a grandmother who spoke little english..and parents who spoke "freely". As a teen, we mixed a lot of italian words into our talking. I still do that today..and even my kids do it.

Anyway, I heard italian spoken almost everyday. Home...in the homes of my friends..and on the streets. It used to remind me of music..hearing it spoken.

Now..where I live..its rare to hear any italian spoken. But, when we are out and we do hear it in a store..or someplace..my husband and I tend to move closer to these people..just to hear them talk..lol Is that nuts? lol I am really so sorry my parents didnt teach us the language.

Ah, ah, ah I'd never seen that. It's a pity some of the members will not understand it!

About weddings in the North of Italy, it's true we do not dance tarantella and play Neapolitan songs as it's not in our tradition but people enjoy themselves all too. People eat, drink, dance and when bottles are finished start to sing old traditional (northern) songs or you can hear atrocious chorus spoling beautifull "cori alpini". There must be something on youtube. Carole is there any "osteria" where you live ?

Oh - yes there are bars, but not 'osterie' as there used to be. But up here in the Valtellina they don't need any excuse to share thier harmonies... my ?Old Folks Circle in the village have a dozen or so ladies (ages ranging from 65 to 101) who need no excuse to break into song at our get togethers. They know I loooove The Montanara so I always get a rendition of that

But here are two popular renditions by 'local' groups here in the Alps...

I guess we see a lot of tarantella here because mostly southern Italians immigrated. Its the same with the food...most italian food is red..lol (the sauce). You see a little of the northern style cooking..but not as much as the southern.

Gee,,all Italian bands must be similar. Those guys sounded like the guys from the st anthony parade...lol

Ah, ah, ah I'd never seen that. It's a pity some of the members will not understand it!

About weddings in the North of Italy, it's true we do not dance tarantella and play Neapolitan songs as it's not in our tradition but people enjoy themselves all too. People eat, drink, dance and when bottles are finished start to sing old traditional (northern) songs or you can hear atrocious chorus spoling beautifull "cori alpini". There must be something on youtube. Carole is there any "osteria" where you live ?

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